Preview: Lazio - Torino

With both sides without a win in over a month, there will be no love lost in this delicate Valentine's Day encounter at the Olimpico.

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Kick-Off: Saturday February 14, 18:00 CET, Stadio Olimpico,Roma

Luckless Lazio Looking To Bounce Back

Following a fourth successive defeat at the hands of Fiorentina last Sunday, Claudio Lotito has called for divine intervention to get his side back to winning ways.

Despite a record-breaking first half to the season, Delio Rossi’s men are also the first Lazio side for ten years to have suffered such a long negative run of results.

There has been talk of crisis in recent weeks but this seems a little far-fetched given the recent performances of the Biancocelesti.
In the 1-0 defeat at the Franchi last weekend, Lazio demonstrated a performance that would suggest they are suffering more from poor fortune rather than poor form.

After dominating Fiorentina for long spells of the game despite being a man down, Delio Rossi’s men still suffered defeat following a late Gilardino goal. Cesare Prandelli was honest enough to describe his side’s victory as “robbery” in his post match interview.

The Biancocelesti have now lost ground on their early ambitions to make the UEFA cup places by the end of the season. With sixth place a massive nine points away, Delio Rossi’s side must now take each game as it comes and concentrate on the team in front of them. Should Lazio manage to put their ambitions aside shortly, it is certain their results will improve, given their quality of attacking play.

Lazio will be looking to make it three wins from three this season against the Granata tomorrow and finally stop the rot that has plagued them for the past month.

Time To Take Toro By The Horns

Despite a run of four consecutive stalemates, the mood in the Torino camp is very uneasy at present. With the Granata lying third from bottom, there is a feeling of missed opportunity in the air given that three of the last four results were against fellow relegation strugglers.

Walter Novellino has vast experience in leading his sides to promotion but is not so expert in the ordeals of a relegation battle. His Torino side have quality but seem to lack the conviction at times that enables them to close out important results. Last Sunday’s draw with Chievo was another example where the Granata let a precious victory slip out from underneath them just eight minutes from time.

Having already played Lazio twice this season Torino should be well prepared for Saturday’s early encounter. In both previous meetings the Granata dominated early play but ended up being well beaten Lazio in the second periods. Given Lazio have struggled of late, Novellino will urge his men to take early advantage and open the game up in their favour.

If Torino can keep their performance going for a full 90 minutes, they could well take something back from a Lazio side to which they have already gifted far too much this season.

FORM GUIDE

Lazio

8 February: Fiorentina 1-0 Lazio

1 February: Lazio 0-3 Milan

28 January: Sampdoria 3-1 Lazio

25 January: Lazio 1-4 Cagliari

22 January: Lazio 3-1 Torino (Coppa Italia)

Torino

8 February: Torino 1-1 Chievo

1 February: Inter 1-1 Torino

28 January: Torino 0-0 Reggina

25 January: Lecce 3-3 Torino

22 January: Lazio 3-1 Torino (Coppa Italia)

TEAM NEWS

Lazio

Delio Rossi has suffered numerous selection issues in recent weeks. Mauro Zarate and Lorenzo De Silvestri will miss Saturday’s encounter through suspension. Christian Ledesma joins Modibo Diakite and Simone Del Nero on the injury list, after he pulled of training with a thigh strain.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-1-2): Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Cribari, Siviglia, Radu; Brocchi, Dabo, Matuzalem; Foggia; Rocchi, Pandev

Torino

Walter Novellino has no suspensions to contend with in preparation for Saturday’s encounter. Torino will however make the trip south light of Elvis Abbruscato, Angelo Ogbonna and Rolando Bianchi who are all nursing injuries.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Sereni; Pisano, Dellafiore, Natali, Colombo; Diana, Zanetti, Dzemaili; Abate; Ventola, Rosina

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi returns to action this week after sitting out through injury recently. With the capital club creating numerous chances but failing to find the back of the net against Fiorentina, it will be down to ‘TommyGol’ to get his scoring again this weekend. With a mere six goals to his name, Rocchi will be desperate to improve his tally and claim his place as Lazio’s top marksman once more.

Alessandro Rosina has been on fine form for the Granata this season, so much so that numerous sides including Arsenal have been following his progress. The pint-sized playmaker is a crucial element for Torino’s attacking phase is notably missed when out through injury. In recent years, Rosina has enjoyed success at the Olimpico including a wonderful solo goal against Lazio on the opening day last season.

PREDICTION

When the sides both met in the Coppa Italia back in January, it proved to be an entertaining affair with Toro taking a surprise lead only for the home side to eventually run out 3-1 winners. Despite the Granata’s recent run of stalemates, the Lazio attack will prove to be too much of a handful given they have a point to prove. With the home fans losing patience, Lazio will be insistent on returning to winning ways and put to rest any talks of a crisis.

Lazio 3-1 Torino Read More..

Lazio Are Moving In The Right Direction - Coach Delio Rossi

Delio Rossi believes his Lazio side will soon come out of their slump, stating that all that matters is where they find themselves when the league concludes...

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Lazio have lost four Serie A matches on the trot, however, they showed significant signs of improvement during last weekend's 1-0 loss to Fiorentina. They went down to ten men in the first half of that fixture but were only denied goals by a brilliant performance from Viola goalkeeper Sebastian Frey.

"We have made mistakes, but we must be patient and focus on [our] results," claimed Lazio coach Delio Rossi, according to Datasport. "We must continue as we did in Florence."

The Biancocelesti will be confident of grabbing a victory against relegation-threatened Torino, who have just 19 points.

"Getting a result [against Torino] would be very important but I think we are on the right track,” Rossi explained to reporters. “I have always said that our [league] ranking in March doesn't matter. We'll evaluate things at the end of the season.”

Despite a positive start to the season, Lazio now linger in 11th place. Club officials and players have stated that their goal this season is to qualify for the UEFA Cup, meaning they will have to finish placed seventh or better.

Read More..

Colantuono Considers Lazio Coaching Position

The ex-Palermo coach is showing an interest in taking over the helm at Lazio should the role become available...

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Lazio have been in a slump lately, losing four matches on the trot, arguably their lowest point in a second consecutive disappointing season.

Delio Rossi is feeling the pressure in the hot seat as the Biancocelesti linger in eleventh place in the Serie A standings and one of the coaches linked with the position, should Rossi leave, is former Palermo coach Stefano Colantuono.

"Me at Lazio? I'm not sure, it's still too early to talk about it," Colantuono told Radio Incontro, suggesting that the situation would be clearer at the end of the season.

"I am a professional and certainly I cannot deny that I have some regrets [with regards to his time at Palermo]. Lazio are an important team, so why not? However, I have not spoken with [Lazio president Claudio] Lotito."

Colantuono had two spells in charge at Palermo during the last two years and both times, he was sacked by Rosanero president Maurizio Zamparini after he did not live up to the out-spoken Sicilian supremo's standards. Read More..

Veron at Lazio by Crespo and Simeone??

According to the Argentine newspaper, the arrival of Veron at Lazio would involve the return of Diego Pablo Simeone and Hernan Crespo. Veron has confirmed the existence of contacts with the capital club and the Argentine journalists ensure that the treaty would also names two former Argentine Lazio landing in Formello as technical directors. Veron on with Simeone and Crespo on the bench. We are entitled to dream.

source :http://www.piazzadellaliberta.it/ Read More..

Juan Sebastián Verón - Lazio, the dream continues.

Juan Sebastián Verón - Lazio, the dream continues. La "bruja" is grilled with Estudiantes shorts that will leave in June, is to proclaim himself in an interview to Radio La Red Argentina. Veron would have been involved in negotiations to bring in new players of Argentina: "I always throw in the midst of this story - said Veron - have said that holding the port here and the players, but has never been true. But if there are many doubts about this thing I will fix them. In June I'm going. " About his possible destination Veron has said: "The president of Lazio calls me every two or three weeks, but I do not want to talk about this now. I'm talking with the River Plate and this emphasis is justified by the fact that I have the contract in deadline. I always listen to the offers they have to me. But now I want to stay quiet. "

The former midfielder biancoceleste has also commented on the market intrigue involving his companion Angeleri team: "I think the leadership was wrong in going to Rome to negotiate with Lazio, without consulting the agent that represents the player " Read More..

Rocchi are ready for Torino..!!

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Lazio are struggling at the moment, having suffered four consecutive defeats, but they will be confident of bouncing back when they play relegation-threatened Torino at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

More good news for coach Delio Rossi will be the return of striker Tomasso Rocchi from injury. The 31-year-old went through the entire training session without problems on Thursday and is now expected to take part against the Granata at the weekend, according to Calciomercato.

The ex-Empoli hitman has been in decent form this season, scoring six times in 14 Serie A appearances.

Goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo, striker Goran Pandev, and defender David Rozenhal all did light workouts after returning from mid-week national team duty with their respective squads. Meanwhile, Aleksandar Kolarov will return on Friday.

Virtually certain to miss that match are Simone Del Nero, Mobido Diakite, Cristian Ledesma and Mourad Meghni, all out through various injuries. Mauro Zarate and Lorenzo De Silvestri are suspended.

Read More..

Simeone to Lazio This June ?

Athletico Madrid fans, enthusiasts of the possibility signing Simeone as a new coach, will receive a disappointment.

Given the average reported by some Spain press in fact, the former technical Estudiantes and River, a much beloved by Madrid rojiblancos could be "blown" by a competitor who in turn could make use of Il Cholo performance as a player. The team in question would be the Lazio that, given the difficult period which is facing Delio Rossi, could also consider the possibility of Diego Simeone as the new coach of the team biancoceleste.

In Spain it is stressed as Lazio interest for Simeone or it might try to contact Il Cholo in the coming weeks. It will be really a "race" between Lazio and Atletico will have Simeone ? Read More..

Angeleri still in doubt

As reported from the SKYsport24 side Estudiantes Marcos Angeleri will not move to Lazio at the end of the season. As reported by satellite shows that the words of the Hidalgo, biancoceleste club would have found agreement with the club but would not have spoken to the player. "Angeleri not go to Lazio because the club got biancoceleste agree only with Estudiantes and we did not speak. So difficult transfer the player to biancocelste "

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Claudio Lotito: Roma Are Not Stronger Than Lazio

The chief is not letting Lazio's poor season affect his judgement of the team's potential as he eyes a top-four place...

Lazio president Claudio Lotito insists his side are not inferior to bitter city rivals Roma and he is confident of beating the Giallorossi to the all important fourth place finish this season.

The Bianconelesti have been struggling this season, despite a decent start to the campaign. Delio Rossi's men sit in eleventh place in Serie A and they are way off the Champions League places.

Nevertheless, Lotito still harbours hopes his players can show their mettle from now until the end of the season and climb up the table.

"I am not disappointed, the Championship is not over yet," Lotito told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

"I will not say that Lazio are forced to go into the Champions League, but in terms of quality we can aim for a top-four finish.

"I think that if my players gave 100 per cent of their potential then we would be amongst the first placed teams.

"I don't think Roma are stronger than us either, they didn't seem so in the derby. We lost, but that was it, we expressed great football in that match."

The Aquilotti clash with relegation strugglers Torino this weekend hoping to improve upon last week's loss against Fiorentina. Read More..

Lazio President Lotito Confirms Rossi Future; Demands Improvement

In an interview that will be made available tomorrow, the Lazio president discussed an array of issues concerning his club at present.

Lazio have been absolutely dreadful in 2009, as they have gone from bad to worse in recent times, and have slipped down to eleventh place in the standings as a result.

This weekend they face Torino in a must win match at home, and so in the lead up to that contest the Lazio president, Claudio Lotito, spent more than two hours behind close doors, as he discussed the current situation of his club with the Corriere dello Sport.

It has been reported that the president is ready to extend the contract of the coach Delio Rossi, whilst he is also close to doing likewise with the club’s hitman Mauro Zarate. As well as this, the plans for a new stadium are coming along nicely, meaning that there are positive things to come for this club in the future.

“Lazio do not deserve to be so low in the standings,” Lotito declared in the interview that will be released tomorrow.

“Unfortunately there have been some injuries and dips in form along thaw way that have affected our results this season.

“For example, this happened against Fiorentina last weekend, when we lost our concentration in the last moments of the match.

“I am confident in a recovery from the team though, as we deserve to be in a higher position in the standings, he added.

“I have never discussed the position of Rossi as coach of this club, and so I can guarantee that he will remain in place.

“As for Zarate, we are taking our time; however we are confident of keeping him.

“And finally our new stadium: it will be futuristic,” Lotito concluded.

As previously mentioned, Lazio host Torino this Saturday, with the play set to get underway at 18:00 CET. Read More..

LOTITO: LAZIO, Zarate Will Redeem

Claudio Lotito spoke about the present and the future of the stadium: "The team does not deserve this position, it will resume soon. By April 30 I can redeem the Argentine and I'm dealing with Pandev »

More than two hours in the central editorial office of the Corriere dello Sport - Stadio to tell his Lazio of today and the future of Lazio. The president Claudio Lotito, without brakes, ready to secure the confirmation of Delio Rossi, the redemption of impressive Zarate and a project related to the new stadium the Swiss team and the club. "Lazio does not deserve the current position in the charts, unfortunately accidents and randomness negative, at Firenze we have suffered in the standings. But I am confident in a recovery, the team deserves a top position in the standings. I never discussed the position of Rossi and can guarantee that will remain in place. Zarate? We are dealing, as with Pandev. The stadium? It will be futuristic. Read More..

FRIENDLY : Lazio 7, Santa Maria delle Mole 0.

FORMELLO, Friendly:
Live news from our Formello. Test midweek conditioned by so many absences. The important news is the presence in the field of Cristian Brocchi alongside Dabo and Matuzalem. Rocchi was absent

Despite the weather conditions are not the best, doors open to the sports center of Formello to the usual midweek friendly team biancoceleste (early days because of a Lazio-Torino will be played Saturday at 18). The opponent is the shift of Santa Maria delle Mole, against whom Delio Rossi is called to test the possible anti grenade training. A conditional test by very many absences: there are Pandev, Carrizo, Rozenhal, De Silvestri, and Mendicino Kolarov who are involved with their national and will return tomorrow. The good news arrives in the middle ground: it's Cristian Brocchi: former Milan midfielder, who with Fiorentina had suffered a contusion to the right thigh, is back in the field regularly, together with Dabo and Matuzalem. Ledesma obviously absent, suffering from an injury to first degree level of the muscle intermediate-wide right thigh, which detained him for two weeks. Backlog in the department lacks Diakité, out because of an injury to the right femoral artery of the thigh: for the French, today, care and physiotherapy corset in the company of preparer, a regular on the field, however, Stephan Lichsteiner, which has now completely overcome the distortion - ankle contusion. In attack, there is no Zarate, who will skip the challenge with Rosina and companions for disqualification, and in its place there's Simone Inzaghi. Postponed, therefore, return to the field of Tommaso Rocchi. Still in box also Meghni.

This, specifically, the training proved by technical biancoceleste against the Santa Maria delle Mole (4-3-2-1): MUSLERA, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; BROCCHI, DABO, MATUZALEM; FOGGIA, MAURI, S. INZAGHI .

FIRST TIME: First game of the hamlet of only 30 'that ended with a partial 1-0 for the team biancoceleste. Author marking Ousmane Dabo, who works in front of the defense in place of injury Ledesma. The French midfielder has inflated the network to 25 ', where the developments of a corner kick has collected the ball from the edge of the area and has started a right that has pierced the ultimate defender guest. Previously the network had nearly Inzaghi, Brocchi and Mauri. Its former rossonero seems perfectly healed physically, like Stephan Lichtsteiner.

SECOND TIME: Shooting the second tranche of the game, in which Delio Rossi has replaced Brocchi and Matuzalem with Manfredini and Zarate, moving in the middle of the field Stefano Mauri. These, in particular, the eleven deployed by Rossi in recovery: MUSLERA, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; MANFREDINI, DABO, MAURI; FOGGIA, Zarate, S. INZAGHI.

It's absolute time of the second one triggered Pasquale Foggia, who continues to confirm his state of grace. The goblin Neapolitan he performed in a 4 goals by applause. Two pearls in particular during his second personal network beat goalkeeper guest with a perfect left-handed a tour that has slipped away on the pole of the host port, but the real rabbit of the hat when it was extracted four seeded opponents with a splendid percussion staff, then passing the goalkeeper with a soft lob. On markers entered, too, Simone Inzaghi, author of a double, to assist on Lichtsteiner and Manfredini. The final states Lazio 7, Santa Maria delle Mole 0. Read More..

Angeleri Will Sign Lazio Tomorrow

Angeleri: Tomorrow could sign


Lazio this evening watching Juan Pablo Carrizo, confirmed in its role as keeper of the Maradona , but not all. Because at the Velodrome in Marseille (France-Argentina, 09.00 pm, live TV on Sportitalia) could take the field even Marcos Angeleri. Eye on the next stroke of Lotito. This is the defender of Estudiantes La Plata, 26 years, nearly taken by the company biancoceleste. The first acquisition is the next season. Missing signatures on contracts and the closing of the agreement with the player, waited in Rome for medical visits and the formalization of an agreement.

AGREEMENT - Lotito and Igli Tare reached the agreement with Estudiantes La Plata, the same club that plays Juan Sebastian Veron. Angeleri will be sold for Angeleri 3.8 million. Argentinean with Italian passport was expiring contract. But no one would have freed his club a zero parameter. The Estudiantes, however, had a clause that allows a lavish premium value on talent grew in their youth work. This explains the need to find a price for the purchase of a jolly defensive, and long in the past months was followed by interaction Atletico Madrid and Parma. Marco Branca, Technical Director of the Nerazzurri, he had identified as a possible deputy or heir Maicon Javier Zanetti. Read More..

Ledesma Injury for 2 Weeks (Surgery)

Yesterday Diakité was submitted at the Clinica Paideia nuclear magnetic resonance inspection revealed that the presence of sequelae of a lesion of 1 degree of right femoral artery of the right thigh. The athlete continued with physiotherapy treatment started earlier and will be submitted at the beginning of next week in a new radiological monitoring.
This day, accompanied by team doctor Dr. Roberto Bianchini and orthopedic consultant Dr. Stephen Lovati were under control at the Radiological Clinic of Rome Paideia players Brocchi and Ledesma. Brocchi had a contusion of the right thigh muscle at the medial and wide-wide-intermediate, which will be submitted for a period of days to specific therapies. Its availability will be evaluated within the next 24/48 hours.
Regarding Ledesma MRI revealed the presence of a lesion of 1 degree at the level of broad-intermediate muscle of the thigh right. The athlete will be unavailable for the match on Saturday and will undergo a new assessment of control Monday of next week. The timetable for recovery is about two weeks. Read More..

LAZIALE ACTIVITIES (from Indonesia)

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Fiorentina Consider Lazio Defender Lorenzo De Silvestri

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Lorenzo De Silvestri is considered one of Italy's greatest prospects, however, he continues to move in and out of the line-up at Lazio.

The Italy Under-21 international has made just 11 league appearances this season and only six of them have been starts as he struggles to gain first-team action. For this reason, Fiorentina are keeping an eye on the promising player.

According to Guerin Sportivo, the Biancocelesti may be willing to concede their home grown talent to the Viola, especially if they bring in highly-regarded Marcos Angeleri from Estudiantes in the summer.

Fiorentina sporting director Pasquale Corvino believes the 20-year-old is a huge talent and, with Manuel Pasqual likely leaving the club at the end of the campaign and Juan Vargas remaining inconsistent, it is considered more cover is needed in the left-back position.

The young player's contract negotiations with Lazio have not been going smoothly. The Roman club would likely give him up before his deal expires in 2010 in order to make a profit rather than taking the risk of losing De Silvestri for nothing.

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Do u know, that Lazio didn't score for the last 15 minutes before half time during this season? How Come ROSSI...???

And we were most conceded at first 15 minutes...Great defense Rossi... Read More..

LAZIALE PIC'S

LAZIALE JAKARTA, INDONESIA

NON MOLLARE MAI..!!! Read More..

Coach And Goalkeeper At Fault For Lazio Crisis – President Lotito

The Lazio president has made comments on his club’s current crisis, as well as the number one goalkeeper and the future of the coach.

Lazio’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina at the weekend has sent the Roman club into crisis mode, as they have now lost four successive fixtures in the Serie A.

Their disastrous form of late has seen them slip down to eleventh in the standings, and they are suddenly ten points adrift of the fourth placed Fiorentina, the team that occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying position.

In a recent interview with Radio Anch’io Sport, the president of the club Claudio Lotito made some comments regarding the side’s poor form, as well as the number one goal keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo and the future of the coach Delio Rossi.

“We are obviously struggling at present, as we are not getting the results that we deserve, as was shown on the weekend,” Lotito stated in the interview.

“We are in a serious crisis because of our recent results, and it is a period where everything is going wrong for us.

“It is a bad time, and so we just have to stay concentrated and stay as positive as we can, and hopefully we can grab a victory that would change the mentality of the players,” he added.

“I think Rossi has done well to protect Carrizo, as he has been a player that has been the subject of several attacks recently.

“It’s not easy for a player to come to the Serie A and be at his best immediately, as the South American keeper has discovered.

“He just needs some time to adjust himself,” he continued.

“Is Rossi is in danger? There is the desire to replace him, however time will tell what happens,” Lotito concluded.

Lazio will be desperate to rediscover their winning touch this weekend, when they host a struggling Torino side at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

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Rossi: Lazio in Crisis?

Lazio coach Delio Rossi insists they are not in a crisis despite yesterday's defeat at Fiorentina marking their fourth consecutive loss.
Sunday's 1-0 slip in Florence saw the Biancoceleste drop to 11th in the Serie A standings.
Rossi, who had not experienced such a poor run of results since joining the Roman outfit in 2005, admitted his team were unlucky.
Alberto Gilardino's goal deep in injury time handed Fiorentina all three points.
"Football is cruel," Rossi said.
"It will not be the first time nor the last time that I have to talk about a game that we lost but we deserved to win.
"Our performance was good and we controlled the game despite playing for almost the entire game down to 10 men."
Lazio had Lorenzo de Silvestri sent off after 15 minutes but kept Fiorentina out until late in the game.
"I am happy with the character and determination shown by my players," Rossi said.
"I think this proves that this is not a team in crisis.
"We need to use that convincing performances to bounce back.
"This time it went badly for us but if we continue like this, the future can only be positive."
Lazio did show a slight improvement on Sunday with respect to their previous games.
The Biancoceleste have given away 11 goals in their last four games while only finding the net twice, figures that have concerned the club fans.
Lazio are nine points behind neighbours Roma, who hold the last European qualifying spot, and host Torino next weekend.  Read More..